PAULINE REVISITS TRAUMATIC PAST
Maturity has helped me
SONGBIRD and women’s rights activist Pauline Gundidza says past mistakes have made her strong and focused.
The Mafriq co-founder, who celebrated her 36th birthday yesterday, said ageing gracefully has come with maturity.
She also opened up on her past mistakes ranging from rocky relationship, abusive marriages to dejection sad chapters, which prompted her to focus on the right things.
Although it’s hard to compensate for the lost time, Pauline believes she now trudging on the right path.
DEPRESSION
Pauline who conceded having a tough upbringing said she ones suffered from hopelessness.
“I’m happy that I have matured with age and this means that I need to focus on the right things as is the case right now.
“I once suffered from depression when life became miserable and I had come to a point where I was reckless.
“I would hang around with the wrong people and I had lost vision focusing on the wrong things which almost claimed my life,” she said.
The versatile songbird told H-Metro Entertainment & Lifestyle that mental issues were real.
I fought depression
“I am also a victim of depression but I have managed to fight it by hanging around with the right people. I had problems with my previous marriages as well as abusive relationships which made me hopeless at some point.
“I had resorted to the bottle to fight all these problems and I think I have since recovered from that and that is why I am now a new person.
“At 36, I think I have seen quite a lot in my life and as a role model I need to lead by example and be a good example to my children.
“My first born Skye is now 16 while Minana turned 11, which means I need to behave like an adult. I have since changed and reformed because my kids are now mature,” she said.
DRUG ABUSE
As she celebrates her 36th birthday, Pauline has genuine fears that the majority of the young people especially those born at the turn of the century need to be saved from drugs.
“With the rate at which young people are taking drugs, I am really concerned because the majority of them might not reach my age.
“I will be composing a drug abuse song very soon as part of my efforts to fight drug abuse in ghettos.
“I have teamed up with a number of musicians to fight this new scourge which needs to be ad-dressed. As a mature person, I am doing my best to ensure that I use my influence to save the young people.
“This problem of drug abuse requires us to really join hands and save the young people who need our help,” she said.
ADVICE
Pauline who admitted that she made mistakes in the past when she was growing up, has a special advice to fans and young people.
“In life we do a lot of mistakes while growing up but what is important is to be able to realise our mistakes and correct them.
“I have realised that it’s never too late for one to repent and start afresh.
“What is only required is to change our ways and hang around with the right people.
“In my case, I have changed quite a lot after meeting the right people and this is the same advice that I am giving to all the young people who are facing problems.
“They can only reform and do well by hanging with the right people and stop regretting past mistakes they committed,” she said.
Pauline who was once married to urban grooves star Roki has on many occasions shared her traumatic past with others as a way of inspiring others.
Music wise, she has been doing very well even though she was not spared by the effects of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She has also been fighting for the empowerment of fellow musicians through advocacy work. Pauline also sits in the Coalition of Zimbabweans Artists Association (C.O.ZA) where they are lobbying the Government to empower them with projects to sustain themselves.
However, it is her fight against any forms of abuse affecting women and young girls that have made her a darling of many.
At 36, Pauline does not regret on her past mistakes but they have made her a strong woman.
Not only has the past made her stronger, she is determined to change people’s lives using her influence as a celebrity.